Practice testing is a powerful tool to consolidate long-term retention of studied information, facilitate subsequent learning of new information, and foster knowledge transfer. However, practitioners frequently express the concern that tests are anxiety-inducing and that their employment in the classroom should be minimized. The current review…

The authors suggest solutions are emerging to the problem of attracting and retaining minority teacher candidates. Developing testwiseness programs and providing minority students with mentors and role models are discussed. (MT)

The article presents a review of test abuse and misuse with the Chicano. It reviews several measures undertaken to rectify abuses and misuses of tests but that have frequently been the source of new problems while not really ameliorating the basic condition, e.g., test translations, adding points, renorming test scores, and importing tests. (NQ)

Reviews research on the effectiveness of teaching test-wiseness. Finds that minority group members, members of culturally different groups, special education students, and students at every educational level benefit from instruction in test-taking strategies. (RS)

Each year high school students match wits with the Scholastic Aptitude Tests. The results help determine who gets into the most selective colleges. The tests are the subject of a growing debate. This article examines possible bias and its effects. (Author/JAC)

This program of research has three general thrusts. First, the relations between motivation and achievement performance were studied across children of various sociocultural backgrounds including lower- and middle- class white, black, and hispanic children. Motivational test bias was found to be strong for students of all sociocultural…

For the most part, standardized tests are verbal and presuppose that the test takers know the language, culture, and values of the test makers, who usually represent white, middle class language and values. The communication problems that minority groups face when taking standardized tests include phonological biases (especially when the tests are…

While some forms of test bias (for example, bias in selection and prediction) appear amenable to definitional consensus, a definition of cultural bias will remain problematic so long as it is confused with the nature/nurture issue. (Author/BW)

This paper discusses equity issues that may arise from the widespread use of high stakes computerized testing. The literature relevant to computerized testing is examined from the perspective of equity concerns from within the framework of research and from the perspective of possible uses of computerized testing if equity issues are considered…

The role of standardized tests in American education is being challenged as many feel that they are unfair and actually reinforce and legitimize existing inequalities. The Educational Testing Service, the SAT, meritocracy, test coaching, and economic bias are discussed. (MLW)

Premodern Chinese education emphasized an intricate system of examinations used by the government to select its officials from among the "shih" (scholars). A dual tract educational system existed: state and some private schools for examination bound scholars, and private schools for others fortunate enough to receive some education. (MH)